Kampung Railway residents opt for out-of-court settlement

The 98 residents agreed to a settlement of low-cost flats purchase and compensation.

PETALING JAYA: Ninety eight Kampung Railway, Sentul residents have withdrawn their case against Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today after agreeing to an out-of-court settlement.

“We have agreed to an out of court settlement where the developer would allow the residents to purchase low-cost flats and receive compensation,” said counsel for the residents Rashid Zulkifli when contacted today.

The flats would be located in Sentul whereas the compensation amount is still being negotiated.

The fight over Kampung Railway began in court last year when Sentul Raya, a subsidiary of YTL Corporation earmarked the land for development.

Sentul Raya claimed that the 153 Kampung Railway residents were trepassers and was seeking a court order to evict them from the land.

The residents, however, counter claimed that they have the right to remain there by virtue of their being descendants of former Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) employees who began settling there in 1885.

They have also called on the government to turn the land into an Indian heritage site.

The government sold the land to the private developer during its privatisation drive in the 1990s in view that development would spur economic activities.

Although Sentul Raya have yet to develop the area, the company have plans to turn Sentul into a modern-living township.

Sentul Raya had originally planned a low- and medium-cost housing project for the people of Kampung Railway. In August last year the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) approved the development plan of the housing project.

The plan is for the construction of 150 units of low-cost houses for Kampung Railway squatters, 576 units for KTMB lower-income staff and 200 units of medium-cost houses.

Last year High Court judge Zabariah Yusof ruled that the property developer Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd is the owner of Kampung Railway.

The judgment allowed Sentul Raya to evict the 153 Kampung Railway residents. Lawyer Uthayakumar who represented the residents appealed against the judgment.

In this case, two groups of residents took up the case against Sentul Raya.

Of the total 153 residents, 98 are represented by Rashid and 30 by lawyer P Uthayakumar while 25 withdrew from the case at the early stage.

A resident representing the 98, R Jothikrishnan, when contacted, said that they are now more concerned about obtaining proper settlement.

R Jothikrishnan, a resident representing the 98 when contacted said they are now more concerned about obtaining a fair settlement.

“We withdrew the case because after the company offered housing to us. We are concerned about the settlement,” he said.

As for the 30 who were previously represented by Uthayakumar, they are now being represented by lawyer Justin Woon.

“They have not come to an agreement yet and their lawyer have requested another date to pursue this case,” said Rashid.

Uthayakumar is currently serving a jail term after being found guilty for sedition.